diff --git a/.bazelci/presubmit.yml b/.bazelci/presubmit.yml
index a08e71c25e..d46242ca28 100644
--- a/.bazelci/presubmit.yml
+++ b/.bazelci/presubmit.yml
@@ -36,6 +36,14 @@ default_windows_targets: &default_windows_targets
   - "//..."
   - "-//test/proto/..."
   - "-//test/unit/pipelined_compilation/..."
+default_windows_no_runfiles_targets: &default_windows_no_runfiles_targets
+  - "--" # Allows negative patterns; hack for https://github.com/bazelbuild/continuous-integration/pull/245
+  - "//..."
+  - "-//crate_universe/..."
+  - "-//test/proto/..."
+  - "-//test/unit/pipelined_compilation/..."
+  - "-//test/unit/rustdoc/..."
+  - "-//tools/runfiles/..."
 crate_universe_vendor_example_targets: &crate_universe_vendor_example_targets
   - "//vendor_external:crates_vendor"
   - "//vendor_local_manifests:crates_vendor"
@@ -78,6 +86,11 @@ tasks:
   windows:
     build_targets: *default_windows_targets
     test_targets: *default_windows_targets
+  windows_no_runfiles:
+    build_flags:
+      - "--noenable_runfiles"
+    build_targets: *default_windows_no_runfiles_targets
+    test_targets: *default_windows_no_runfiles_targets
   ubuntu2004_split_coverage_postprocessing:
     name: Split Coverage Postprocessing
     platform: ubuntu2004
@@ -171,6 +184,15 @@ tasks:
       - "--config=clippy"
     build_targets: *default_windows_targets
     test_targets: *default_windows_targets
+  windows_no_runfiles_with_aspects:
+    name: No Runfiles With Aspects
+    platform: windows
+    build_flags:
+      - "--noenable_runfiles"
+      - "--config=rustfmt"
+      - "--config=clippy"
+    build_targets: *default_windows_no_runfiles_targets
+    test_targets: *default_windows_no_runfiles_targets
   windows_rolling_with_aspects:
     name: "Windows Rolling Bazel Version With Aspects"
     platform: windows
@@ -610,7 +632,7 @@ tasks:
     environment:
       # This ndk version matches with rules_android_ndk repo's CI
       # https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_android_ndk/blob/877c68ef34c9f3353028bf490d269230c1990483/.bazelci/presubmit.yml#L37
-      # The ndk is installed by this script 
+      # The ndk is installed by this script
       # https://github.com/bazelbuild/continuous-integration/blob/ba56013373821feadd9f2eaa6b81eb19528795f0/macos/mac-android.sh
       ANDROID_NDK_HOME: /opt/android-ndk-r25b
   android_examples_macos:
@@ -625,7 +647,7 @@ tasks:
     environment:
       # This ndk version matches with rules_android_ndk repo's CI
       # https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_android_ndk/blob/877c68ef34c9f3353028bf490d269230c1990483/.bazelci/presubmit.yml#L42
-      # The ndk is installed by this script 
+      # The ndk is installed by this script
       # https://github.com/bazelbuild/continuous-integration/blob/ba56013373821feadd9f2eaa6b81eb19528795f0/macos/mac-android.sh
       ANDROID_NDK_HOME: /Users/buildkite/android-ndk-r25b
   ios_examples:
diff --git a/cargo/cargo_build_script_runner/lib.rs b/cargo/cargo_build_script_runner/lib.rs
index 3739a1778d..c0c4ea4dc7 100644
--- a/cargo/cargo_build_script_runner/lib.rs
+++ b/cargo/cargo_build_script_runner/lib.rs
@@ -124,7 +124,9 @@ impl BuildScriptOutput {
     pub fn outputs_from_command(
         cmd: &mut Command,
     ) -> Result<(Vec<BuildScriptOutput>, Output), Output> {
-        let child_output = cmd.output().expect("Unable to start binary");
+        let child_output = cmd
+            .output()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| panic!("Unable to start command:\n{:#?}", cmd));
         if child_output.status.success() {
             let reader = BufReader::new(child_output.stdout.as_slice());
             let output = Self::outputs_from_reader(reader);
diff --git a/cargo/private/BUILD.bazel b/cargo/private/BUILD.bazel
index 6a1aab653c..2b7e6de7dd 100644
--- a/cargo/private/BUILD.bazel
+++ b/cargo/private/BUILD.bazel
@@ -1,7 +1,13 @@
 load("@bazel_skylib//:bzl_library.bzl", "bzl_library")
+load(":runfiles_enabled.bzl", "runfiles_enabled_build_setting")
 
 bzl_library(
     name = "bzl_lib",
     srcs = glob(["**/*.bzl"]),
     visibility = ["//:__subpackages__"],
 )
+
+runfiles_enabled_build_setting(
+    name = "runfiles_enabled",
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
diff --git a/cargo/private/cargo_build_script.bzl b/cargo/private/cargo_build_script.bzl
index 56f64994af..16b6623693 100644
--- a/cargo/private/cargo_build_script.bzl
+++ b/cargo/private/cargo_build_script.bzl
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ load(
     "find_toolchain",
     _name_to_crate_name = "name_to_crate_name",
 )
+load(":runfiles_enabled.bzl", "is_runfiles_enabled", "runfiles_enabled_attr")
 
 # Reexport for cargo_build_script_wrapper.bzl
 name_to_crate_name = _name_to_crate_name
@@ -198,6 +199,39 @@ def _feature_enabled(ctx, feature_name, default = False):
 
     return default
 
+def _rlocationpath(file, workspace_name):
+    if file.short_path.startswith("../"):
+        return file.short_path[len("../"):]
+
+    return "{}/{}".format(workspace_name, file.short_path)
+
+def _create_runfiles_dir(ctx, script):
+    runfiles_dir = ctx.actions.declare_directory("{}.cargo_runfiles".format(ctx.label.name))
+
+    workspace_name = ctx.label.workspace_name
+    if not workspace_name:
+        workspace_name = ctx.workspace_name
+
+    def _runfiles_map(file):
+        return "{}={}".format(file.path, _rlocationpath(file, workspace_name))
+
+    runfiles = script[DefaultInfo].default_runfiles
+
+    args = ctx.actions.args()
+    args.use_param_file("@%s", use_always = True)
+    args.add(runfiles_dir.path)
+    args.add_all(runfiles.files, map_each = _runfiles_map, allow_closure = True)
+
+    ctx.actions.run(
+        mnemonic = "CargoBuildScriptRunfilesDir",
+        executable = ctx.executable._runfiles_maker,
+        arguments = [args],
+        inputs = runfiles.files,
+        outputs = [runfiles_dir],
+    )
+
+    return runfiles_dir
+
 def _cargo_build_script_impl(ctx):
     """The implementation for the `cargo_build_script` rule.
 
@@ -215,9 +249,20 @@ def _cargo_build_script_impl(ctx):
     flags_out = ctx.actions.declare_file(ctx.label.name + ".flags")
     link_flags = ctx.actions.declare_file(ctx.label.name + ".linkflags")
     link_search_paths = ctx.actions.declare_file(ctx.label.name + ".linksearchpaths")  # rustc-link-search, propagated from transitive dependencies
-    manifest_dir = "%s.runfiles/%s/%s" % (script.path, ctx.label.workspace_name or ctx.workspace_name, ctx.label.package)
     compilation_mode_opt_level = get_compilation_mode_opts(ctx, toolchain).opt_level
 
+    build_script_inputs = []
+
+    workspace_name = ctx.label.workspace_name
+    if not workspace_name:
+        workspace_name = ctx.workspace_name
+
+    manifest_dir = "{}.runfiles/{}/{}".format(script.path, workspace_name, ctx.label.package)
+    if not is_runfiles_enabled(ctx.attr):
+        runfiles_dir = _create_runfiles_dir(ctx, ctx.attr.script)
+        build_script_inputs.append(runfiles_dir)
+        manifest_dir = "{}/{}/{}".format(runfiles_dir.path, workspace_name, ctx.label.package)
+
     streams = struct(
         stdout = ctx.actions.declare_file(ctx.label.name + ".stdout.log"),
         stderr = ctx.actions.declare_file(ctx.label.name + ".stderr.log"),
@@ -378,7 +423,6 @@ def _cargo_build_script_impl(ctx):
     args.add(streams.stderr)
     args.add(ctx.attr.rundir)
 
-    build_script_inputs = []
     for dep in ctx.attr.link_deps:
         if rust_common.dep_info in dep and dep[rust_common.dep_info].dep_env:
             dep_env_file = dep[rust_common.dep_info].dep_env
@@ -520,7 +564,12 @@ cargo_build_script = rule(
         "_experimental_symlink_execroot": attr.label(
             default = Label("//cargo/settings:experimental_symlink_execroot"),
         ),
-    },
+        "_runfiles_maker": attr.label(
+            cfg = "exec",
+            executable = True,
+            default = Label("//cargo/private/runfiles_maker"),
+        ),
+    } | runfiles_enabled_attr(),
     fragments = ["cpp"],
     toolchains = [
         str(Label("//rust:toolchain_type")),
diff --git a/cargo/private/runfiles_enabled.bzl b/cargo/private/runfiles_enabled.bzl
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0e5c3c5150
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cargo/private/runfiles_enabled.bzl
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+"""A small utility module dedicated to detecting whether or not the `--enable_runfiles` and `--windows_enable_symlinks` flag are enabled
+"""
+
+RunfilesEnabledInfo = provider(
+    doc = "A singleton provider that contains the raw value of a build setting",
+    fields = {
+        "value": "The value of the build setting in the current configuration. " +
+                 "This value may come from the command line or an upstream transition, " +
+                 "or else it will be the build setting's default.",
+    },
+)
+
+def _runfiles_enabled_setting_impl(ctx):
+    return RunfilesEnabledInfo(value = ctx.attr.value)
+
+runfiles_enabled_setting = rule(
+    implementation = _runfiles_enabled_setting_impl,
+    doc = "A bool-typed build setting that cannot be set on the command line",
+    attrs = {
+        "value": attr.bool(
+            doc = "A boolean value",
+            mandatory = True,
+        ),
+    },
+)
+
+_RUNFILES_ENABLED_ATTR_NAME = "_runfiles_enabled"
+
+def runfiles_enabled_attr(default = Label("//cargo/private:runfiles_enabled")):
+    return {
+        _RUNFILES_ENABLED_ATTR_NAME: attr.label(
+            doc = "A flag representing whether or not runfiles are enabled.",
+            providers = [RunfilesEnabledInfo],
+            default = default,
+            cfg = "exec",
+        ),
+    }
+
+def runfiles_enabled_build_setting(name, **kwargs):
+    native.config_setting(
+        name = "{}_enable_runfiles".format(name),
+        values = {"enable_runfiles": "true"},
+    )
+
+    native.config_setting(
+        name = "{}_disable_runfiles".format(name),
+        values = {"enable_runfiles": "false"},
+    )
+
+    runfiles_enabled_setting(
+        name = name,
+        value = select({
+            # If either of the runfiles are set, use the flag
+            ":{}_enable_runfiles".format(name): True,
+            ":{}_disable_runfiles".format(name): False,
+            # Otherwise fall back to the system default.
+            "@platforms//os:windows": False,
+            "//conditions:default": True,
+        }),
+        **kwargs
+    )
+
+def is_runfiles_enabled(attr):
+    """Determine whether or not runfiles are enabled.
+
+    Args:
+        attr (struct): A rule's struct of attributes (`ctx.attr`)
+    Returns:
+        bool: The enable_runfiles value.
+    """
+
+    runfiles_enabled = getattr(attr, _RUNFILES_ENABLED_ATTR_NAME, None)
+
+    return runfiles_enabled[RunfilesEnabledInfo].value if runfiles_enabled else True
diff --git a/cargo/private/runfiles_maker/BUILD.bazel b/cargo/private/runfiles_maker/BUILD.bazel
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3b3df766c2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cargo/private/runfiles_maker/BUILD.bazel
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+load("//rust:defs.bzl", "rust_binary")
+
+rust_binary(
+    name = "runfiles_maker",
+    srcs = ["runfiles_maker.rs"],
+    edition = "2021",
+    visibility = ["//visibility:public"],
+)
diff --git a/cargo/private/runfiles_maker/runfiles_maker.rs b/cargo/private/runfiles_maker/runfiles_maker.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..439f5741d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cargo/private/runfiles_maker/runfiles_maker.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+//! A tool for building runfiles directories for Bazel environments that don't
+//! support runfiles or have runfiles enabled.
+
+use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+struct Args {
+    pub output_dir: PathBuf,
+    pub runfiles: BTreeMap<PathBuf, PathBuf>,
+}
+
+impl Args {
+    fn parse() -> Self {
+        let args_file = std::env::args().nth(1).expect("No args file was passed.");
+
+        let content = std::fs::read_to_string(
+            args_file
+                .strip_prefix("@")
+                .expect("Param files should start with @"),
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let mut args = content.lines();
+
+        let output_dir = PathBuf::from(
+            args.next()
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("Not enough arguments provided.")),
+        );
+        let runfiles = args
+            .map(|s| {
+                let s = if s.starts_with("'") && s.ends_with("'") {
+                    s.trim_matches('\'')
+                } else {
+                    s
+                };
+                let (src, dest) = s
+                    .split_once('=')
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|| panic!("Unexpected runfiles argument: {}", s));
+                (PathBuf::from(src), PathBuf::from(dest))
+            })
+            .collect::<BTreeMap<_, _>>();
+
+        assert!(!runfiles.is_empty(), "No runfiles found");
+
+        Args {
+            output_dir,
+            runfiles,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn main() {
+    let args = Args::parse();
+
+    for (src, dest) in args.runfiles.iter() {
+        let out_dest = args.output_dir.join(dest);
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(
+            out_dest
+                .parent()
+                .expect("The output location should have a valid parent."),
+        )
+        .expect("Failed to create output directory");
+        std::fs::copy(src, &out_dest).unwrap_or_else(|e| {
+            panic!(
+                "Failed to copy file {} -> {}\n{:?}",
+                src.display(),
+                out_dest.display(),
+                e
+            )
+        });
+    }
+}
diff --git a/docs/src/index.md b/docs/src/index.md
index 1045dca333..53ee5cbd71 100644
--- a/docs/src/index.md
+++ b/docs/src/index.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Note that rules_rust bzlmod support is still a work in progress. Most features s
 To use `rules_rust` in a project using bzlmod, add the following to your `MODULE.bazel` file:
 
 ```python
-bazel_dep(name = "rules_rust", version = "0.48.0")
+bazel_dep(name = "rules_rust", version = "0.50.1")
 ```
 
 Don't forget to substitute in your desired release's version number.
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ load("@bazel_tools//tools/build_defs/repo:http.bzl", "http_archive")
 # https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_rust/releases
 http_archive(
     name = "rules_rust",
-    integrity = "sha256-Weev1uz2QztBlDA88JX6A1N72SucD1V8lBsaliM0TTg=",
-    urls = ["https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_rust/releases/download/0.48.0/rules_rust-v0.48.0.tar.gz"],
+    integrity = "sha256-Log/YgrGjboS4tCqQPBA58VPyFcnCn/IZm+xxKTZrn0=",
+    urls = ["https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_rust/releases/download/0.50.1/rules_rust-v0.50.1.tar.gz"],
 )
 
 load("@rules_rust//rust:repositories.bzl", "rules_rust_dependencies", "rust_register_toolchains")
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ To build with a particular version of the Rust compiler, pass that version to [`
 rust_register_toolchains(
     edition = "2021",
     versions = [
-        "1.79.0"
+        "1.79.0",
     ],
 )
 ```
diff --git a/examples/crate_universe/cargo_aliases/.bazelrc b/examples/crate_universe/cargo_aliases/.bazelrc
deleted file mode 100644
index a67f1baf7f..0000000000
--- a/examples/crate_universe/cargo_aliases/.bazelrc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-# A config file containing Bazel settings
-
-# Required on windows
-common --enable_platform_specific_config
-startup --windows_enable_symlinks
-build:windows --enable_runfiles
-
-# Enable rustfmt
-build:strict --aspects=@rules_rust//rust:defs.bzl%rustfmt_aspect
-build:strict --output_groups=+rustfmt_checks
-
-# Enable clippy
-build:strict --aspects=@rules_rust//rust:defs.bzl%rust_clippy_aspect
-build:strict --output_groups=+clippy_checks
-
-# TODO: migrate all dependencies from WORKSPACE to MODULE.bazel
-# https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_rust/issues/2181
-common --noenable_bzlmod
-
-# This isn't currently the defaut in Bazel, but we enable it to test we'll be ready if/when it flips.
-build --incompatible_disallow_empty_glob
-
-# This import should always be last to allow users to override
-# settings for local development.
-try-import %workspace%/user.bazelrc
diff --git a/examples/crate_universe/cargo_remote/.bazelrc b/examples/crate_universe/cargo_remote/.bazelrc
deleted file mode 100644
index a67f1baf7f..0000000000
--- a/examples/crate_universe/cargo_remote/.bazelrc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-# A config file containing Bazel settings
-
-# Required on windows
-common --enable_platform_specific_config
-startup --windows_enable_symlinks
-build:windows --enable_runfiles
-
-# Enable rustfmt
-build:strict --aspects=@rules_rust//rust:defs.bzl%rustfmt_aspect
-build:strict --output_groups=+rustfmt_checks
-
-# Enable clippy
-build:strict --aspects=@rules_rust//rust:defs.bzl%rust_clippy_aspect
-build:strict --output_groups=+clippy_checks
-
-# TODO: migrate all dependencies from WORKSPACE to MODULE.bazel
-# https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_rust/issues/2181
-common --noenable_bzlmod
-
-# This isn't currently the defaut in Bazel, but we enable it to test we'll be ready if/when it flips.
-build --incompatible_disallow_empty_glob
-
-# This import should always be last to allow users to override
-# settings for local development.
-try-import %workspace%/user.bazelrc
diff --git a/examples/crate_universe/cargo_workspace/.bazelrc b/examples/crate_universe/cargo_workspace/.bazelrc
deleted file mode 100644
index a67f1baf7f..0000000000
--- a/examples/crate_universe/cargo_workspace/.bazelrc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-# A config file containing Bazel settings
-
-# Required on windows
-common --enable_platform_specific_config
-startup --windows_enable_symlinks
-build:windows --enable_runfiles
-
-# Enable rustfmt
-build:strict --aspects=@rules_rust//rust:defs.bzl%rustfmt_aspect
-build:strict --output_groups=+rustfmt_checks
-
-# Enable clippy
-build:strict --aspects=@rules_rust//rust:defs.bzl%rust_clippy_aspect
-build:strict --output_groups=+clippy_checks
-
-# TODO: migrate all dependencies from WORKSPACE to MODULE.bazel
-# https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_rust/issues/2181
-common --noenable_bzlmod
-
-# This isn't currently the defaut in Bazel, but we enable it to test we'll be ready if/when it flips.
-build --incompatible_disallow_empty_glob
-
-# This import should always be last to allow users to override
-# settings for local development.
-try-import %workspace%/user.bazelrc
diff --git a/examples/crate_universe/multi_package/.bazelrc b/examples/crate_universe/multi_package/.bazelrc
deleted file mode 100644
index a67f1baf7f..0000000000
--- a/examples/crate_universe/multi_package/.bazelrc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-# A config file containing Bazel settings
-
-# Required on windows
-common --enable_platform_specific_config
-startup --windows_enable_symlinks
-build:windows --enable_runfiles
-
-# Enable rustfmt
-build:strict --aspects=@rules_rust//rust:defs.bzl%rustfmt_aspect
-build:strict --output_groups=+rustfmt_checks
-
-# Enable clippy
-build:strict --aspects=@rules_rust//rust:defs.bzl%rust_clippy_aspect
-build:strict --output_groups=+clippy_checks
-
-# TODO: migrate all dependencies from WORKSPACE to MODULE.bazel
-# https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_rust/issues/2181
-common --noenable_bzlmod
-
-# This isn't currently the defaut in Bazel, but we enable it to test we'll be ready if/when it flips.
-build --incompatible_disallow_empty_glob
-
-# This import should always be last to allow users to override
-# settings for local development.
-try-import %workspace%/user.bazelrc
diff --git a/examples/crate_universe/no_cargo_manifests/.bazelrc b/examples/crate_universe/no_cargo_manifests/.bazelrc
deleted file mode 100644
index a67f1baf7f..0000000000
--- a/examples/crate_universe/no_cargo_manifests/.bazelrc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-# A config file containing Bazel settings
-
-# Required on windows
-common --enable_platform_specific_config
-startup --windows_enable_symlinks
-build:windows --enable_runfiles
-
-# Enable rustfmt
-build:strict --aspects=@rules_rust//rust:defs.bzl%rustfmt_aspect
-build:strict --output_groups=+rustfmt_checks
-
-# Enable clippy
-build:strict --aspects=@rules_rust//rust:defs.bzl%rust_clippy_aspect
-build:strict --output_groups=+clippy_checks
-
-# TODO: migrate all dependencies from WORKSPACE to MODULE.bazel
-# https://github.com/bazelbuild/rules_rust/issues/2181
-common --noenable_bzlmod
-
-# This isn't currently the defaut in Bazel, but we enable it to test we'll be ready if/when it flips.
-build --incompatible_disallow_empty_glob
-
-# This import should always be last to allow users to override
-# settings for local development.
-try-import %workspace%/user.bazelrc